Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Ha'il

For one person, living is cheaper in Ha’il: $1,073 a month against $1,779 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens, Greece
Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,779
/mo nomad
Ha'il
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,073
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Ha'il

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Ha'il actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,779 in Athens versus $1,073 in Ha’il.

  • Athens $1,779
  • Ha'il $1,073

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,623 in Ha’il.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Ha'il $1,623

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Athens versus $2,174 in Ha’il.

  • Athens $3,663
  • Ha'il $2,174

Living in Athens is roughly 66% more expensive than in Ha’il, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 32% above, Ha’il is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 €14.99
$5.40 SAR 20.28
211.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 €58.8
$36.86 SAR 138
79.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 €9.98
$5.91 SAR 22.17
89.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.17 SAR 4.38
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.22 SAR 8.32
-
Cappuccino
$4.08 €3.64
$2.60 SAR 9.77
56.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.47
$0.61 SAR 2.30
354.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.48
$0.23 SAR 0.86
134.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 €5.07
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26 €5.58
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.64
$1.69 SAR 6.34
8.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.27
$0.86 SAR 3.21
66.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.38
$1.88 SAR 7.05
42.02%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.41
$1.93 SAR 7.26
156.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.09 €13.44
$6.68 SAR 25.08
125.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.99 €9.79
$8.88 SAR 33.31
23.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.77 €17.60
$8.15 SAR 30.58
142.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 €1.89
$1.49 SAR 5.59
42.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.52 SAR 5.70
30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$1.27 SAR 4.77
4.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.94 SAR 7.28
11.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.29 SAR 4.85
-17.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.61 SAR 6.05
-28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.23 SAR 4.61
-12.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.75
$0.48 SAR 1.79
77.08%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.64 SAR 9.92
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 SAR 6.47
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81 SAR 6.78
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 €4.86
$6.77 SAR 25.42
-19.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 €8.93
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.82
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.12
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.20
$0.91 SAR 3.43
48.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.52 €27.18
$36.03 SAR 135
-15.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 €3.39
$2.67 SAR 10.04
42.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.92
$1.77 SAR 6.65
-41.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.49 €14.68
$13.27 SAR 49.82
24.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 €2.09
$0.64 SAR 2.41
265.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K €24.7K
$31.0K SAR 116.5K
-10.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €23.7K
$21.8K SAR 81.8K
22.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €180
$52.8 SAR 198
282.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 €23.87
$21.29 SAR 79.9
25.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 €27.14
$45.84 SAR 172
-33.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €48.14
$66.0 SAR 248
-18.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.40 €24.40
$26.26 SAR 98.6
4.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.44 €9.30
$14.67 SAR 55.1
-28.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 €505
$419 SAR 1,571
35.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.5K
$12.1K SAR 45.5K
25.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 €80.7
$42.92 SAR 161
111.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 €35.01
$55.5 SAR 208
-29.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.7
$97.9 SAR 367
7.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$83.5 SAR 313
54.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 €661
$241 SAR 904
207.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 €577
$406 SAR 1,525
59.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,132
$361 SAR 1,355
252.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 €999
$618 SAR 2,321
81.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,999 €3,561
$1,982 SAR 7,437
101.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,281 €2,921
$1,201 SAR 4,507
173.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Ha'il
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 €1,109
$1,081 SAR 4,056
15.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
5.54
-19.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens: October 31, 2026

Last update for Ha'il: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$648
Ha'il
$406 37.3% $242
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$316
Ha'il
$179 43.5% $138
Eating Out
Athens
$272
Ha'il
$96 64.8% $176
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$260
Ha'il
$120 53.8% $140
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$164
Ha'il
$126 23.2% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Ha'il
$95 27.2% $20
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Ha'il
$51 14.1% $6.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Athens and $241 in Ha’il. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66 in Athens vs $37 in Ha’il for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $179 per month, with Ha’il cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇸🇦 Ha'il
🕒 Local time
07:27 7:27 AM
08:27 8:27 AM
1 h ahead of Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
310,897
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.21 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Ha'il 2,040 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Ha'il

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Athens vs Ha'il: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Ha’il?
Ha’il wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ha’il the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Ha’il?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Athens, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Ha’il?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Athens versus $241 in Ha’il. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Ha’il?
Dining out is cheaper in Ha’il – a meal for two runs $37 versus $66 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Ha’il?
All in, you’ll spend $1,779 per month in Athens versus $1,073 in Ha’il – Ha’il is about 40% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Athens or in Ha’il?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ha’il is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Athens or Ha’il?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Should I move to Athens or to Ha’il?
It comes down to priorities – Ha’il wins on affordability, Athens on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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